Device for removing lint



N. H. WELVANG 2,913,745

DEVICE FOR REMOVING LINT Nov. 24, 1959 Filed NOV. 13, 1957 Inventor. Norman H. welvang United States Patent DEVICE FOR REMOVING LINT Norman H. Welvang, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 13, 1957, Serial No. 696,247

. 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-104) My invention relates to improvements in devices for removing lint, especially from clothing.

An object of the invention is to provide a'simple and inexpensive device of the present nature, constructed in compact form and capable of being readily carried in a users pocket or purse, and adapted to be conveniently readied for use and effectively used in picking up lint, a further object of the invention being to provide such a device of relatively great capacity for the removalof lint.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational face view of a lint removing device constructed in accordance with my invention, the near leaf of the cover, as seen in said Fig. 1, being partially turned back from the outer adhesively coated surface of the outermost sheet of its corresponding packet of such sheets.

Fig. 2 is an elevational edge view of the structure shown in Fig. l. r

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing in detail the holder strap to which the twin packets of adhesively coated sheets are applied.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View in detail showing the holder strap with a lint-removing sheet applied to either side thereof, such sheets being the innermost of similar sheets which, in completed form of the device, constitute the twin packets of lint-removing sheets carried by said holder strap.

As illustrated, my improved construction includes a lint-removing pad P and a cover C for the protection of said pad when it is not in use.

The pad P includes twin packets a of sheets for picking up lint, and a holder strap b carrying said packets a, said holder strap constituting a finger piece for the manipulation of said pad P in its application to articles from which lint is to be removed.

The holder strap b preferably consists of a strip 11 of conventional adhesive tape coated at one side thereof with a tacky adhesive coating 12. Likewise, the sheets 10 of the packets a preferably consist of sections of such tape, coated as at 13, with a tacky adhesive coating.

The holder strap b is of flattened endless band-like formation having opposed planiform side reaches x, y, the girth of said holder strap b being such that fingers of a users hand may be accommodated between said reaches of the holder strap for manipulation of the pad P in its application to articles from which lint is to be removed. The strip 11 forming the holder strap b, has its end portions y y folded back on the intermediate portion x thereof, the adhesive coating 12 on the folded strip 11 being at the outer face thereof. Said back-folded end portions y y of the strip 11 are terminally lapped one over the other and united by the adhesive coating 12 on the strip at a lap joint j midway between the ends of the por tion y of the strip 11, the said coating 12 on the outer face of the overlapped end portion y of the strip 11 adhering to the inner face of the overlapping end portion y of said strip.

Each of the twin packets a of the pad P includes a number of adhesively coated sheets 10 superposed one upon another, the coating 13 on the outer face of each sheet 10 adhering to the inner face of the next outer sheet 10. One of the packets a is mounted on the reach 2: of the strap b, the other packet a being mounted on the other reach y of said strap b, the inner face of the innermost sheet 10 of each packet a being superposed on its respective reach of said strap, the adhesive coating 12 on the outer face of such reach adhering to the inner face of the innermost sheet 10 of the packet.

In the reach y of the strap b, the lap joint between the end portions y y of the strip 11 is overlain by the innermost sheet 10 of the packet a superposed on said reach y and is reinforced by the said innermost sheet of said packet due to the adhesion of the end portions y y of the strip 11 with end portions of said innermost sheet 10 at either side of said joint j.

Each sheet 10 of each packet a is supplied with a tab or pull-strip 14 of flexible material which is marginally superposed upon a marginal portion of the outer face of the sheet, the coating 13 on the sheet adhering to the inner face of said tab, thus attaching the tab to the sheet. Through the medium of its tab or pull-strip 14, each sheet 10 of each packet a may be readily stripped from its next inner sheet.- Said tabs or pull-strips 14, as shown, are applied to the sheets 10 of the packets a in positions extending transversely of said sheets across the end portions thereof. Referring to the packet a overlying the reach y of the holder strap b, it will be seen that the tabs or pull strips 14 on the sheets 10 are at the end portion of the packet a which overlies the end portion y of the strip 11. Due to this disposition of the tabs or pullstrips 14 the end portion y of the strip 11 will tend to remain in place overlapping the end portion y of said strip 11 rather than tending to be peeled therefrom, in the event that the said packet 11 overlying the reach y of the strap b should be unintentionally pulled away from said end portion y of the strip 11 when a sheet 10 is in the course of being stripped from the said packet a. Said tabs or pull-strips 14 are preferably formed of a. material such that the adhesion between'the coating 13 on the outer face of a sheet 10 and the inner face of its respective tab or pull-strip is of greater tenacity than the adhesion between such coating 13 of a sheet 10 and the inner face of the next outer sheet 10 of a packet a. By reason of this provision sheets 10 may be stripped from the packets a, through the media of the tabs or pullstrips 14, without danger of detachment of the said tabs or pull-strips from said sheets 10.

The cover C is in the form of a folder having two leaves 15, one leaf being folded upon the other. This cover receives the pad P which is positioned therein with the tabs or pull-strips 14 of the packets a adjacent the open end of the cover. The coating 13 on the outer face of the outermost sheet 10 of each packet a adheres to the inner face of its corresponding leaf 15 of the cover C, holding said cover in place on the pad P with said leaves 15 of thecover covering their respective packets a of lint-removing sheets 10. As to the cover leaf 15 overlying the pad a which, in turn, overlies the reach y of the holder strap b, it will be noted that the free end of the said cover leaf is opposite the end portion y of the holder strap strip 11 which terminally overlies the end portion y thereof. If the said pad a'overlying the said reach of the holder strap b should be unintentionally pulled away from the said reach y when the said cover leaf is being stripped from the said pad a, the end portion y of said strip 11 will tend to remain adhesively in place terminally overlapping the end portion y of said strip 11 rather than tending to be peeled therefrom with the possible result of destroying the endless band-like form of the holder strap b. Thus, like the tab-equipped ends of the sheets 10 of the packet a which overlies the reach of the holder strap b, the free end of the cover leaf l5 overlying said packet a is disposed at the same end of the device as the end portion y of the holder strap b which overlies the end portion y of said reach y of said holder strap.

In using the device, one or the other of the leaves 15 of the cover C is first stripped back from its respective packet a exposing the coating 13 on the outermost sheet of such packet. With fingers of the hand inserted into the holder strap b and with another or other fingers of the hand placed to hold the free leaf of the cover C in position turned back against the outer face of the other leaf 15 of said cover, the device may be manipulated to pat the said exposed coating 13 on the outermost sheet of the uncovered packet a against the surface of the article from which lint is to be removed. Thus manipulating the device, lint will be picked up by the coating 13. When the said coating 13 of a sheet 10 has become unduly fouled with an accumulation of lint, such sheet Will be stripped from its packet a to present the fresh coating 13 provided on the next inner sheet 10 of the packet a. One leaf 15 of the cover C remains attached to its respective packet a of the pad P, while the other packet a of the pad is uncovered for use. The cover C as a whole is therefore always held in its proper relationship with respect to the pad P, it only being necessary after each operation to return the previously freed leaf 15 of the cover C to original position, wherein the coating 13 on the outermost sheet 10 of its respective packet a adheres to its inner face.

The cover C is preferably made of plastic or other material having surface characteristics such that the adhesion between a sheet 10 of a packet a and a leaf 15 of the cover C is less tenacious than the adhesion between sheets 10 of the packet, whereby the outermost sheet of a packet will remain undisturbed when a leaf 15 of the cover C is stripped therefrom.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my improved device for removing lint may be inexpensively constructed from commercially stocked materials; that its compactness enables it to be conveniently carried in a purse or pocket of a user; that the pad for picking up lint is effectively protected by a cover of extreme simplicity which is conveniently adjusted to bare a selected packet of lintremoving sheets Without disturbing the relationship of the cover, as a whole, with respect to the pad, and that the pad, with the cover remaining attached thereto, is capable of being readily and effectively used in removing relatively large quantities of lint from surfaces to which it may be applied.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lint removing device, the combination of a holder strap in the form of a flattened endless band having opposed substantially planiform side reaches, said holder strap being adapted to receive between its said reaches a number of fingers of a users hand for manipulation of the device, said holder strap consisting of a strip of flexible material coated at its outer face with a tacky adhesive coating, one end portion of said strip being overlapped by the other and adhering at its outer adhesively coated face to the inner face of the overlapping end portion of the strip, two packets of sheets, one packet being superposed on and covering one reach of said-holder strap, the other packet being superposed on and covering the other reach, each reach of the holder strap at its adhesively coated outer face adhering to the inner face of the innermost sheet of its respective packet, each sheet of each packet being coated at its outer face witha tacky adhesive coating adhering to the inner face of its next outer sheet, each sheet of the packet being adapted to be stripped from its next inner sheet, the coating on the outer face of the outermost sheet of each packet presenting a tacky surface for picking up lint.

2. In a lint removing device, the combination of a holder strap in the form of an endless band adapted to receive a number of fingers of a users hand for manipulation of the device, said holder strap consisting of a strip of flexible material having its end portions turned back upon the intermediate portion thereof and coated at their outer faces with an adhesive coating, the end portions of said strip being terminally overlapped one by the other, the overlapped end portion of the strip adhering at its outer adhesively coated face to the inner face of the overlapping end portion of said strip forming a joint uniting said end portions of the strip, a packet of sheets superposed on said end portions of the strip and overlying the joint therebetween, the adhesively coated outer faces of said end portions of the strip adhering to the inner face of the innermost sheet of said packet at either side of said joint, each sheet of the packet being coated at its outer face with a tacky adhesive coating adhering to the inner face of its next outer sheet, each sheet being adapted to be stripped from its next inner sheet, the coating on the outer face of the outermost sheet of the packet presenting a tacky surface for picking up lint.

3. In a lint removing device, the combination of two substantially planiform assemblies of sheets, means connecting said sheet assemblies, one to the other, in back to back relationship, said connecting means enabling said sheet assemblies to be spread apart to receive therebetween a number of fingers of a users hand for manipulation of the device, each sheet of each assembly being coated at its outer face with a tacky adhesive coating adhering to the inner face of its next outer sheet, each sheet being adapted to be stripped from its next inner sheet, the coating on the outer face of the outermost sheet of each sheet assembly presenting a tacky surface for picking up lint, and a cover having two leaves folded one upon the other, said cover being adapted to receive said connected sheet assemblies between the leaves thereof, one leaf being adapted to overlie and adhere to the outer adhesively coated face of the outermost sheet of one of the sheet assemblies of the device, the other leaf of the cover being adapted to overlie and adhere to the outer adhesively coated face of the outermost sheet of the other sheet assembly, either leaf of said cover being adapted to be stripped from the outermost sheet of its respective sheet assembly to bare the adhesive coating thereon, such leaf being adapted to be turned back against the other leaf of the cover for retention by other fingers of the hand; while said other leaf remains held in covering position adhering to the adhesive coating on the outermost sheet of its respective assembly of sheets.

4. In a lint removing device, the combination of two packets of sheets, a holder strap in the form of a flattened endless band having opposed side reaches, said holder strap consisting of a strip of flexible material coated at its outer face with a tacky adhesive coating, the intermediate portion of said strip forming one side reach of the holder strap, the end portions of said strip being turned back on said intermediate portion thereof and terminally overlapped one by the other, the overlapped portion of the strip adhering at its outer adhesively coated face to the inner face of the overlapping portion of said strip forming a lap joint uniting said end portions of the strip, said united back-turned end portions of the strip forming the other side reach of the holder strap, each sheet of each packet being coated at its outer face with a tacky adhesive coating adhering to the inner face of its next outer sheet, each sheet being adapted to be stripped from its next inner sheet, the coating onthe outer-face. of the outermost sheet of each packet presenting a tacky surface for picking up lint, one of said packets being superposed on one reach of said holder strap, the other packet being superposed on the other reach, each reach of said holder strap at its adhesively coated outer face adhering to and being covered by the inner face of the-innermost sheet of its respective packet, said holder strap being adapted to receive between its said reaches a number of fingers of a users hand for manipulation of the device, and a cover having two leaves folded one upon the other, said cover being adapted to receive the strap connected packets between its leaves, the reaches of the holder strap, the packets and said leaves of the cover being all elongated and extending lengthwise in the same direction, one leaf of the cover being adapted to overlie and adhere to the outer adhesively coated face of the outermost sheet of one of said packets, the other leaf of the cover being adapted to overlie and adhere to the outer adhesively coated face of the outermost sheet of the other packet, either leaf of said cover being adapted to be stripped, free-end first, from the outermost sheet of its respective packet to bare the adhesive coating thereon, such leaf being adapted to be turned back against the other leaf of the cover for retention by other fingers of the hand while said other cover leaf remains held in packet-covering position adhering to the adhesive coating on the outermost sheet of its respective packet.

5. A lint removing device as defined in claim 4, wherein the end-for-end relationship between the cover and holder strap is such that the free end portions of the leaves of the cover are at the same end of the device as the end portion of the holder strap strip which terminally overlies the other end portion of said strip.

6. In a lint removing device, the combination of a holder strap in the form of an endless band adapted to receive a number of fingers of a users hand for manip' ulation of the device, said holder strap consisting of a strip of flexible material having its end portions turned back upon the intermediate portion thereof and coated at their outer faces with an adhesive coating, said end portions of said strip being terminally overlapped one by the other, the underlying end portion of the strip adhering at its outer adhesively coated face to the inner face of the overlying end portion of said strip forming a joint uniting said end portions of the strip, a packet. of sheets superposed on said end portions of the strip and overlying the joint therebetween, the adhesively coated outer faces of said end portions of the strip adhering to the inner face of the innermost sheet of said packet at either side of said joint, each sheet of the packet being coated at its outer face with a tacky adhesive coating adhering to the inner face of its next outer sheet, each sheet being adapted to be stripped from its next inner sheet, the coating on the outer face of the outermost sheet of the packet presenting a tacky surface for picking up lint, each sheet of the packet having a tab adhering to a marginal portion of its adhesively coated face to facilitate the stripping thereof from the packet, the tabs for said sheets being disposed at the same end of the device as the end portion of the holder strap strip which terminally overlies the other end portion of said strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

